As the weeks flew by, Leonard and Penny's team worked together to stop more time jumpers getting into her world. They infiltrated portals having teams ready when one opened within their reach. With the help of informers and intelligence, both agencies were able to compile a list containing possible names of the suspects and shared the information. They had managed to stop over a dozen jumpers and sent them back. There was a special team set aside to be ready at any time, day or night to counter any threats and disrupt the portals before they open, or arrests them on entry. Portals were opening all over the world; it was hard to manage especially when it opened in hostile countries. Jumpers had to be hunted down when their time stamp was detected, and a team sent in to capture them or eliminate the targets. This made it impossible to count how many slip through their nets. Leonard and Penny had their work cut out, as well as trying to capture Sheldon. It was exhausting for both teams, temper flared here and there, but both sides were determined to work through it with the strong leadership from Leonard and Penny. There were numerous rumors of sightings of Sheldon, but most of them were false alarms and probably ploys by Sheldon, and his underworld buddies to distract the team while they tried to slip through their cargo of convicts. It was now getting harder to get through which put the price for jumpers up, but the very desperate were willing to pay the higher rates for a fresh start.
The warehouse was now Leonard and his team's base. Secrecy was a must as the public domain was still unaware of the time jumpers threat. Every day Leonard and Penny met to share intelligence. They worked day and night to find Sheldon.
As they walked down the stairs from the roof of the warehouse after inspecting one of the antenna that had been damaged by lightning. Penny glanced over her shoulder, aware that Leonard was checking her out. Their eyes met for a few seconds. She pulled a little face, then laughed.
"So, tell me more about yourself and how you and Sheldon become friends and then foes," Penny asked.
"Well, I grew up in New Jersey with my parents and siblings. My mother was terrible. She made my life a misery. She was never sympathetic, even when I got bullied, she made me feel like I deserved it."
"You poor thing. It sounds like your mom is an evil bitch." Penny replied.
"You could say that again. I could never please her, and everything I did was wrong, even my achievements were ridiculed and any sort of approval growing up was non-existent. You can imagine what that did to my self-esteem."
"You must have some good memories of growing up. What about your dad?" Penny asked sympathetically.
"My dad was never around; he was always on some kind of expedition. He was an Anthropologist and traveled the world a lot. I didn't have a great childhood. All I ever wanted was my mother's approval and love, but it never came, she was cold and treated me as an experiment." he sighed.
"That is so sad. You'll have me in tears in a moment. Your mother worked a number on you." She said sincerely. Penny saw that timeless face again and just wanted to hug him.
"I'm over it now, taking ownership of my destiny has opened my eyes. Leonard said proudly.
"I have only recently met you, but you are one of a kind. You deserve to be loved and respected. Penny sympathized.
Leonard was touched by her words. He felt he finally met someone who understood him.
"I still do not understand; after your upbringing, you ended up been best friends with someone that reminds your mom." Penny blurted out.
"To be honest, I don't know myself. He was my best friend, I know how his mind works, that why I was given the task of finding him." Penny listened and let Leonard continue. "I was picked by the task force because I knew Sheldon very well and was involved in building the first failed time machine. After we canceled the project, Sheldon was not happy about it and protested every chance he had; he would not let it go. He finally calmed down and stopped talking about how I ruined his life and moved on, which I found strange but didn't think much of his motives. I just thought he was over it. But unknown to us Sheldon kept working on the project and made deals with some underworld criminals to get the illegal elements that were needed to build the time machine, and it looks like after all these years he will finally succeed."
"Yeah, it is looking that way unless we find a way to stop him. Did you have some combat training? You were great at paintball the other day." Penny tried to cheer him up. Leonard and Penny organized it to build up morale for the team. Leonard's team lost badly.
"I was better than Howard."Leonard grinned.
I'll give you that. But that's probably because his concentration was elsewhere. Penny rolled her eyes.
"Bernadette? I didn't have any kind of training growing up. My uncle did teach me how to shoot guns, and I was pretty good at it, and a quick learner. I learned combat and using automatic weapons after spending six months in the Army preparing for my role in tracking down escapees. Also, they needed someone who understood the physics of jumping universes."
"So, what does an experimental thingy do?" Penny asked.
"Experimental physics." Leonard corrected her. "Well, I approve or disprove experiments and write a complete paper and control the narrative of
other physicist's research field better."
"So, you are like a genius." Penny grinned.
"Well, I do have a Ph.D. and a doctorate," Leonard said proudly.
"So, you are up there with Sheldon craziness." Penny teased.
"Yeah maybe." Leonard teased back and said. "We both worked at the same university, but we didn't meet until we became roommates."
"What was that like living with Sheldon Cooper?" Penny wondered.
"Oh, it was a nightmare. He had so many phobias and was bat crap crazy and made my life a misery." Leonard remembered.
"And you continue to live with him. Leonard, you need your head examined."
"That was a long time ago; we haven't spoken for years after his betrayal." Leonard sighted
"Betrayal! You mean when he stole your papers?, but I don't understand how you put up with him for so long."
"I guess he was broken and needed me," Leonard replied sadly.
"Leonard, you sound like a soft touch."
"Thanks for your vote of confidence. I guess he reminded me of my mother and maybe subconsciously I was seeking her approval. I was broken back then, and my self-esteem was at its lowest and maybe trying to mend it by taking comfort in people who reminded me of my past and seeking redemption. In the end, I broke away from that crap and Sheldon. He went his way, and I went mine. Two different paths. I'm stronger now and gotten over my need for my mother's approval or anyone for that matter. I'm focused on the mission ahead and will do everything in my power to bring Sheldon to justice."
Penny was touched by his words. She hasn't left his side since they met. She liked talking to him. Penny gave him a light tap, stroking his arm as she walked beside him. "We will figure it out together." she was so close to him he could smell her perfume. She always leans toward him when they talked, which Leonard notices she didn't do with others. He knew he was attracted to her. He would always take a deep breath when he sees her. Leonard felt comfortable talking to Penny. He couldn't help but think she was attracted to him too.
"I'm sure we will. Let's get it on." Leonard winked at Penny.
A small smile form on her face which she couldn't hide. She like the way he pretended that he was not into her, she could see right through him. The way he gazes his forearm while talking to her and licking his lips in a cute (not creepy) way. She put her hands on her hip.
"What's that supposed to mean." Penny raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing I was just trying to be funny." Leonard was taken aback; he thought she was flirting with him from her body language, he tried not to make direct eye contact. He must have read the signal wrong.
"I'm kidding..." Penny said and grinned jeeringly.
Leonard and Penny entered the communication room. Bernadette was sitting on a terminal showing Howard something, their playful banter was evident. They noticed Howard leaning over Bernadette while she adjusted her blouse to give him a peek view. This did not go unnoticed by Leonard and Penny. Howard turned to look at them and said with a big grin on his face. "I think we may have found Sheldon. He is hiding across town."
"Are you sure this time. I'm really getting piss off with all the false alarms." Penny groaned.
"We think it is him. One of our men picked up his timestamp." Howard said and pointed to a dot on the terminal. Leonard could clearly see it was pinpointing Sheldon's location.
"It's in a residential area. We have to be careful as not to raise suspicion." Penny said.
Leonard agreed. "Come on, let go get our man." Penny and Howard followed leaving Bernadette behind.
Outside the warehouse Leonard was briefing about half a dozen men, giving instructions. He wanted them to be careful and not use extreme force or visible weapons,
and to blend in and staying out of sight was a priority, unless necessary. He turns to Penny.
"You are with me, Howard you go with the guys and drive behind us. We will take Penny's car."
Penny like the way Leonard was taking charge. She thought he was cute and there something about him that drew her to him, but she just couldn't place it. She just knew she liked being close to him. She brushes it off as her way of keeping an eye on him as she didn't trust him entirely.
"So, what's going on with Howard and Bernadette?" asked Penny.
Leonard raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, but I wish they would just get it on."
"They like each other then." Penny grinned
"Yeah, I guess, just like you like me." Leonard teased.
"What..." Penny stopped in her tracks.
"Well since we met you have not left my side," Leonard said.
"Excuse me, mister; you do know you are still a suspect and under suspicion by my government." Penny retorted.
"If you say so." Leonard grinned and carried on walking. Penny just rolled her eyes and could not believe his
arrogance.
Penny sat in the car and opened the glove compartment retrieving her gun as Leonard drove. "So, the plan is we both go in and get Sheldon and get out as quickly as possible," Penny said.
"Yeah, Sheldon could be armed? his underworld buddies will definitely be and will do anything to protect him," Leonard said.
"That's why we are not taking any chances." Penny cocked her 45 and put it in her mid-back.